Proclamation of INAP

 The New Port of Kochi was opened for service in March 1998, with large quays opening directly onto the Pacific Ocean. At the opportunity of the commissioning of the new Port of Kochi, the Hon. M. H. M. Ashraff, PC, MP, the then Minister of Ports Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction from the government of Sri Lanka proposed that an opportunity should be created for all affiliate ports to meet together. The proposal agreed by the Mr. Daijiro Hashimoto, Governor of Kochi.
 The Sri Lanka Ports Authority, upon this decision, held an International Symposium from 17 to 19 November 1998, with the participation of 6 ports in total. The other participating ports, all with Sister-Port Agreements with the Port of Kochi or the Port of Colombo, were the Port of Subic Bay, the Philippines; the Port of Tanjung Perak, Indonesia; the Port of Qingdao, the People's Republic of China; and the Port of New Orleans, the USA. This Symposium was held around the theme of "Global Peace through Sister Ports".
 In the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Symposium, Governor Hashimoto proposed the "Port Network Alliance" concept based on cooperation among sister ports. The alliance would aim at exchanging and sharing information on marine transport and port affairs, studying and discussing potential measures to promote mutual exchanges, and moreover creating a world scale port network which could respond the needs of marine transport on the basis of intra-regional networks consisting of member ports. Minister Ashraff further developed the proposal and proposed the establishment of an international network organization for sister ports, the "International Network of Affiliated Ports" (INAP). The delegates supported the idea. A document of the basic agreements made regarding the establishment was summarized as a Proclamation. 

The following 5 points are given in the Proclamation:

1. INAP shall endeavour to make the Affiliate Ports Network mutually beneficial by consultation, co-operation and exchange of information on expertise, know-how, and marketing, planning, technology, technical skills, and overall developments of "Ports" and any other matters of mutual interest to the "Ports" including economic and cultural benefits.
2. INAP shall endeavour to establish a mutually beneficial Regional Federation by conducting and promoting the above described activities of the "Ports" based on mutual benefits and efficient circulation and distribution of resources and services.
3. INAP shall make all endeavours to enhance human intellectual, spiritual development and cultural growth.
4. INAP shall also endeavour to revitalize the common moral and religious values.
5. INAP shall play a special role in creating environmental awareness so as to minimize the ecological impact the modern civilisation has caused on the environment and thereby ensure the planet earth becoming a truly peaceful and harmonious place to live in without fear and anxiety.

・Abdullah Umar/Branch Manager　Port of Tanjung Perak,Surabaya　INDONESIA
・Victor L. Mamon/Actg. Deputy Administrator　Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Subic Bay　PHILIPPINES
・Dr. Jay Jayawardena/Associate Professor and Economist,National Ports and Waterways Institute,Lousiana State University,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
・Admiral Mohan Samarasekera/Chairman　Sri Lanka Ports Authority,Colombo　SRI LANKA
・HON. M. H. M. ASHRAFF PC., MP.　MINISTER OF PORT DEVELOPMENT,REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION,SRI LANKA
・HON. DAIJIRO HASHIMOTO/GOVERNOR KOCHI PREFECTURE GOVERNMENT,JAPAN
・Tatsuyuki Shishido/Director General Port, Harbour & Airport　Port of Kochi JAPAN Capt.

November 19,1998